CD of The Week

We Are Scientists</strong> return with their fifth studio album TV En Francais, after about four years since their last effort, the slightly subdued Barbara. The band has self-proclaimed this one as their best work, which is consistent with the personality and sense of tongue in cheek humor we’ve come to expect from bandmates Keith Murray and Chris Cain. We Are Scientists is the sort of band that has a formula for creating their songs and stick to it. Their bouncy style of indie pop is all over this album as well, with a few songs on which they try and branch out. There is a lot that sounds familiar to We Are Scientists fans including lead single "Dumb Luck," which sounds like it would fit perfectly on With Love and Squalor. "Make it Easy" is an example of the band doing what they do best with its combination of some slower choruses and an upbeat refrain.

Where the band reaches a bit and does some things they haven’t done before are a couple of the finer moments on this album. "Courage" is a slow ballad that is pulled off exceptionally well and the chorus and simultaneous counterpart vocals of "Overacting" sound a little bit similar to The Police. The two tracks are quite refreshing placed directly in the middle of the album which surrounds them with a lot of familiar sounds from the band.

TV En Francais is rounded out by a trio of songs that all could fit well on any earlier We Are Scientists album. "Slow Down" is a nice, uptempo rocker that probably sounds great live. "Don’t Blow It" has an incredibly catchy chorus that you’ll find yourself singing for some time after you’ve heard the song and the album closes with the solid and heartfelt "Take an Arrow." Overall, this album is a little more consistent than it's predecessor and should leave fans pleased.

Catch We Are Scientists and their cheeky brand of humor with new set of songs when they play two shows here in Philly at Boot and Saddle on April 15thand 16th (sold out).